Information

& Regulations
for all Trinity College London
graded and certificate exams
in music
from 2017

Trinity College London

trinitycollege.com
Charity number 1014792
Patron HRH The Duke of Kent KG
Chief Executive Sarah Kemp
Copyright © 2012 Trinity College London
Published by Trinity College London
Online edition, May 2018
Contents
Official recognition of Trinity exams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Exam entry requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Equal opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Child protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Data protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Customer service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

How to enter for an exam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Entry process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Requests for provision for special needs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Exam appointments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Instruments, accessories and other materials to be provided by the candidate . . . . . . . 9

Music and pre-recorded accompaniments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

The exam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Recording of exams by Trinity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Results, reports and certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Prizes and exhibition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Absence through illness and exceptional circumstances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Referrals to Trinity over a candidate’s infringement of exam regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Results review and appeals procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Malpractice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Official recognition of Trinity exams in England, Wales and Northern Ireland . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Entry to UK higher education and UCAS points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

2
Information & Regulations from 2017
These regulations supersede all previous guidance relating to the conduct of Trinity College London
(‘Trinity’) exams. They apply to all Trinity graded and certificate exams in Music.

This information should be read in conjunction with the further guidance and specific regulations
outlined in the syllabus of the particular exam to be taken. Additional information on our Rock & Pop
exams can be found in the current Rock & Pop syllabuses at trinityrock.com/syllabus. Please always
refer to our website for the most current versions of the documents.

Information on structure, marks and timings for graded exams, along with assessment criteria for
graded and certificate exams, can also be found on the Trinity website.

Official recognition of Trinity exams

Trinity College London is an international exam board regulated by Ofqual (Office of Qualifications and
Examinations Regulation) in England, CCEA Regulation in Northern Ireland and by Qualifications Wales.
Trinity’s graded and certificate music exams are regulated by these authorities within the Regulated
Qualifications Framework (RQF). Various arrangements are in place with governmental education
authorities worldwide.

Trinity’s Grade 6–8 exams can contribute to entry into UK’s higher education through allocation of
UCAS points, please see trinitycollege.com/music-UCAS for further information.

Exam entry requirements

Trinity accepts applications for its exams on the condition that candidates conform to the requirements
of the appropriate current syllabus and the information and regulations contained herein. Trinity retains
the right to revise the content of Information & Regulations from time to time and any such changes will
be published and advertised via its website at trinitycollege.com/music-regulations

No theory qualification is required in order to enter for Trinity practical exams in music, although a
separate series of theory exams is available to candidates and to teachers who wish to use these as a
complement to practical training. Details of theory exams, assessment requirements, and applicable
rules and regulations are contained in a separate syllabus which can be obtained from either Trinity’s
central office or your Trinity representative.

Candidates may enter any Trinity exam in music without previously having taken any other qualification
in the suite, but candidates should have absorbed the technical demands of levels below that of the
exam which they are entering.

Candidates may enter for more than one practical exam in the same or different subjects at the
same session but no more than one entry will be accepted per candidate per session in the same
grade and subject.

Trinity reserves the right to refuse or cancel the entry of any candidate. The reason for the refusal
or cancellation will be given, and the entry fee will be refunded.

Exam entries cannot be transferred from the name of one candidate to another.

3
Information & Regulations from 2017

Equal opportunities
Trinity is committed to providing equality of opportunity and treatment for all, and will not unlawfully
or unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly on the basis of gender, age, ethnic origin, or disability.

Child protection
Trinity College London is fully committed to safeguarding and protecting the candidates that we work
with. All posts, including examiners, are subject to a safer recruitment process, including the disclosure
of criminal records and vetting checks. Our safeguarding policies and procedures are regularly
reviewed and promote safeguarding and safer working practice across all parts of our work.

Data protection
Trinity College London is registered as a Data Controller with the Information Commissioner’s Office in
the United Kingdom under data protection legislation. Please see trinitycollege.com/data-protection
for the most up-to-date information about Trinity’s data protection procedures and policies or contact
us on dpo@trinitycollege.com for further information.

Customer service
Trinity College London is committed to providing a high-quality service for all our users from initial
enquiry through to certification. Full details of our customer service commitment can be found at
trinitycollege.com/customer-service

4
 Information & Regulations from 2017

How to enter for an exam

For exams in the United Kingdom and Ireland
Exams may be taken at any of Trinity’s public exam centres. For centre details please consult
trinitycollege.com/UKmusic-entry. Schools or private teachers in England, Wales and Scotland with
sufficient candidates may apply to enter under the Examiner Visit Scheme, thereby benefiting from the
convenience of a freer choice of exam dates and an on-site visit from an examiner at an agreed
venue. Further details are available on Trinity’s website.

For exams in all other countries

Trinity exam centres are located throughout the world. Details of centres and Trinity representatives
can be found at trinitycollege.com/worldwide or can be requested from Trinity’s central office.

If a candidate needs an interpreter, please make sure to discuss and receive Trinity’s approval before
completion of the entry process (please see page 11 for further details about specific rules on interpreters).

Entry process
All entries for exams must be made on an official Trinity entry form or online for Rock & Pop exams.

Completed entry forms must be accompanied by the correct entry fee, and sent in advance of the
closing date for application to the exam.

Closing dates for exams are available from Trinity’s website. Where possible, your Trinity representative
will seek to meet a request for a specific exam date provided it is clearly specified in the corresponding
Trinity exam entry form, but this cannot be guaranteed. Requests for morning or afternoon appointments
will be observed where possible, but requests for precise times cannot be accepted. Please note that
exam dates may occasionally need to be changed from those published.

When an entry is made for a percussion exam it should be clearly indicated (for timetabling purposes)
when a Drum Kit candidate is left handed.

Where to send your entry form

Please send entry forms to your local Trinity representative.

How to pay in the United Kingdom

Cheques should be made payable to Trinity College London. A processing and payment receipt can
be provided if the appropriate section of the entry form is completed and a stamped addressed
envelope supplied. Rock & Pop exams can be paid for by credit or debit card online.

How to pay anywhere else

Please contact your Trinity representative for further information.

55
Information & Regulations from 2017

Who may enter candidates

Exam entries may be submitted by a teacher, parent or guardian, or by candidates themselves if they
are aged 18 or over. Correspondence will be conducted with this person only.

By entering for a Trinity exam, candidates agree that they will abide by Trinity’s regulations, syllabus
requirements and the professional judgements of its examiners.

Entry transfer from one exam centre to another

Entries at one centre may be transferred to another centre for a fee, however they cannot be deferred
to a later exam session. In the case of a transfer, a new entry form must be completed and the
appropriate fee must be paid (please contact Trinity’s central office for further details).

Incomplete entries
If an entry form is incomplete, it may be refused.

Trinity is required to collect candidates’ dates of birth in order to produce anonymised statistical
information for various government and educational bodies, and if this information is not provided
on the entry form, then the entry process may be delayed, resulting in late entry.

Inaccurate entries
Candidates’ names as shown on the entry form will be used when producing certificates for successful
candidates. Please ensure that all details on the entry form are complete, accurate, and free from errors.

If you require a correction to be made on an entry form or to details held about you on Trinity’s database,
please contact your Trinity representative.

Late entries
Please note that entries will not be accepted if received less than 14 days before the exam date.

Anyone wishing to make a late entry must contact their Trinity representative first before submitting a
late entry, because late entries can only be accepted at the discretion of the Trinity representative.

Entries which are received following the application closing date will be subject to the following surcharges:
◗ for late entries received up to 21 days before the exam date: + 50% of the entry fee
◗ for late entries received between 20 and 14 days before the exam date: + 100% of the entry fee.

Trinity makes no guarantee that acceptance of a late entry will result in the exam taking place. If a late
entry is accepted but the candidate cannot obtain an exam slot, Trinity may, at its discretion, refund the
entry fee, although the surcharge fee will be retained in all cases to cover costs of administration of that
late entry.

6
 Information & Regulations from 2017

Requests for provision for special needs

Trinity College London is committed to creating an inclusive environment where candidates with special
needs are able to demonstrate their skills and feel welcomed. We aim to make our exams accessible to
all. We treat each learner individually when considering how we can achieve this aim, recognising that
requirements vary. Candidates can be assured that we do not compromise on the standard of marking
or allow the quality of exams to be affected in any way.
If a candidate has any special needs we will try to help. Of course we will not make any change that
affects the assessment standards. We will treat each request individually, so please visit the website
trinitycollege.com/music-csn or contact us to discuss your requirements.

Reasonable adjustments to premises

Candidates who require wheelchair access or other such reasonable adjustment being available or
made in their exam centre should contact the exam centre directly as soon as possible.

Reasonable adjustments to tests

Examiners do not carry special tests as a matter of course. Please note that Trinity will require extra
preparation time to prepare and provide a candidate with adjusted tests taking into account any
candidate’s special needs, for example adapted sight reading and improvisation tests, extra preparation
time given to the candidate during the exam, etc.

7
Information & Regulations from 2017

Exam appointments
Receipt of appointment forms
Upon receipt and acceptance of a candidate’s entry to an exam, the Trinity representative will send an
appointment form to the person who signed the entry form.

This will normally take place around 21 days before the exam date. The appointment form will confirm
the Trinity ID number allocated to the candidate, the grade and subject of exam, and the date, time
and place of the exam.

Please note that Trinity will not accept any request for changing an exam date, time or place following
the issue of an appointment form.

The completed appointment form must be handed back to the examiner on the day of the exam.
Trinity reserves the right to refuse to examine a candidate who cannot produce their appointment
form on the day.

Correcting details on an appointment form

If you find any errors in your personal information specified on the appointment form, please notify your
Trinity representative immediately. An incorrect exam subject or grade cannot be altered on the day of
the exam, but it will be acceptable for a candidate to point out a misspelling of their name to the examiner.

Information to fill in on the appointment form prior to the exam

The appointment form must be handed to the examiner on entering the exam room.

Before the exam, candidates should ensure that they have filled in the names of the pieces that they
will be playing, with their choice of technical work and supporting tests marked.

Candidates may present their exam pieces in any order, but must write their preferred sequence on the
appointment form and point it out to the examiner at the start of the exam. This choice does not
extend to cases where the syllabus stipulates the order of any item.

8
 Information & Regulations from 2017

Instruments, accessories and other materials to be provided

by the candidate
Instruments and accessories
Each exam room will be equipped with a tuned piano, an adjustable stool and a music stand. Candidates
wishing to take exams in organ, electronic organ and percussion instruments should discuss arrangements
with their Trinity representative before entering. For details on the Rock & Pop exam room set-up, please
refer to the current Rock & Pop syllabuses.

All other instrumentalists must provide their own instruments and accessories, eg footstools for guitarists,
extension leads, stands and seats for keyboards, and other electrical devices such as CD players.

Please note that candidates are responsible for their own instruments and accessories, and for
ensuring that any electrical devices and other accessories they take to the exam centre comply with
health and safety requirements applicable in the country where the exam is taking place.

Trinity will not accept any liability in the event of any candidate’s property being lost, stolen, or
damaged either while in transit to and from the exam centre or at any time during the exam itself.

Music and pre-recorded accompaniments

Music
It is a candidate’s responsibility to obtain the music for their exam in good time prior to entering any
exam. Candidates are advised to check a particular piece’s availability with a chosen publisher before
deciding to play that particular piece at an exam.

Candidates are required to bring either their Trinity music book (or their music sheet if the music isn’t
published by Trinity) to the exam room. If music has been downloaded, then proof of purchase will need
to be brought to the exam.

Solo performances of accompanied pieces are not permitted. It is the responsibility of the candidate
to ensure that adequate accompaniment is provided, when pieces require it.

Copies for examiners

Candidates are required to provide the examiner with a copy of all of the pieces they will be performing
(except pieces taken from Trinity publications). These copies need not include the accompaniment.

Copyright
Candidates are required to strictly comply with copyright and other intellectual property laws which are
in force in the country where the exam is taking place.

Pre-recorded accompaniments
With the exception of Rock & Pop, Jazz Woodwind, Guitar and Drum Kit exams where other rules
apply and are listed in the appropriate syllabus, candidates may use a recording of the piano
accompaniment in exams up to and including Grade 3.

9
Information & Regulations from 2017

Recordings of accompaniments need not be commercial products but must be of good quality, and
must not include the solo part which the candidate is to play.

CD players or other playback devices provided by candidates must be able to produce a good sound
quality with adequate volume. Small, un-amplified playback devices such as iPods, mobile phones, etc
are not acceptable.

Any candidate using recordings will be responsible for providing and operating their own playback
equipment. Arrangements (about power supply, equipment insurance, etc) must be agreed well in
advance with the Trinity representative by the person who signed the entry form.

The exam
Candidate arrival and warm-up time
Public centres administered by Trinity will endeavour to provide waiting and warm-up room facilities
wherever possible, but Trinity cannot guarantee this.

Candidates must be ready 15 minutes before the time of their appointment. Candidates who
arrive late may find that their exam cannot be conducted, although every effort will be made to
accommodate them.

Duration and sequence order of the exam

Candidates are permitted to play or sing a few notes before the exam starts to get used to the
acoustics of the exam room.

For piano and other unaccompanied instruments, candidates will normally be asked to play scales
before the music pieces (or candidates will be asked which of these they would prefer to play first).
This general order is reversed for accompanied instruments.

Examiners may choose to curtail any performance once they have formed a judgement. In cases
where candidates are required to observe an overall timing in their chosen programme, they must
ensure that these include the breaks between pieces.

Please note that over-running or under-running by more than 10% will be penalised.

Examiners
Generally, only one examiner will be present in the exam room. However, for training and quality
assurance purposes, another examiner may be present.

Accompanying a candidate
Trinity reserves the right to exclude anyone apart from the candidate(s), the accompanist and the
page-turner from the exam room, except in special cases such as when there is a need for interpreters,
facilitators, or assistants for candidates with special needs. Trinity’s central office must approve such
arrangements in writing before an entry is made.

Please note that no photography or unauthorised audio or video recording by anyone other than
a Trinity examiner is permitted during the exam. Any recordings made without Trinity’s agreement
may be confiscated on the spot and may invalidate the exam.

10
 Information & Regulations from 2017

Accompanists, page-turners and interpreters

Trinity does not provide accompanists, nor can the examiner act as an accompanist or page-turner.

Accompanists are only allowed in the exam room for the duration of the piece of music they
are accompanying.

Page-turners are only allowed for keyboard instruments. Page turns can normally be facilitated by
photocopying the relevant pages of the music sheet and placing them side-by-side on the music stand.
If a candidate needs to have a page-turner, arrangements must be made at the candidate’s entire
responsibility, including any related costs. Page-turners are only allowed in the exam room for those
components of the exam in which they are actively participating.

Interpreters are allowed for candidates whose first language is not English and where the candidate
does not have sufficient mastery of the English language for the communication requirements of the
exam. The candidate is responsible for all arrangements and costs of an interpreter, whose involvement
must be agreed with the centre in advance of the exam.

Recording of exams by Trinity

Audio recordings
Trinity audio records all exams for quality assurance purposes and to maintain an archive of recordings.
These procedures are an essential feature of Trinity’s commitment to quality assurance and are in no
way detrimental to candidates. Performances recorded by Trinity will under no circumstances be
released and will not be used for commercial purposes without the performer’s consent, but may be
used for training purposes and assessment standardisation. Examiners will not refer to recordings when
making their assessments and recordings will not be retained beyond their functional need.

Video recordings
Trinity exams are sometimes filmed for examiner training and quality assurance purposes. Trinity is
mindful of the sensitivities and legalities regarding the making of video recordings of young people, and
will always be pleased to halt any recording, or erase specific examples on request, without any reason
being given, and without any prejudice to the assessment.

Whenever filming is scheduled to take place at an exam centre, Trinity will seek express permission (either
from the parent or guardian of a candidate under 18, and directly to the candidate if he or she is over 18
years old) for the candidate to be filmed. This will normally be done through a specific consent form sent
to the candidate, or parent or guardian prior to the exam taking place (which should be sent back to the
Trinity representative or handed in to the examiner on the day of the exam). Even where consent has been
obtained, not all exams in the session will necessarily be filmed.

Alternatively, candidates may also be notified of video recording on the day of the exam via notices of
posters placed near the exam room, eg on the exam room door and/or in the waiting room.

Candidates and their parents or guardians will be given the opportunity on the day of the exam to
withhold consent to being filmed, a decision which Trinity will accept without question in all cases.
Therefore candidates may also decline to be filmed on entering the exam room whether or not they,
or their parents or guardians have given permission in advance.

11
Information & Regulations from 2017

Trinity will seek to ensure that video recording should not impose any additional pressure on the
candidate, and has laid down strict rules to centres about the way equipment is placed and used.

Video equipment used will be in the form of a discrete, single, static camera, operated by the examiner(s)
and will be used without any additional lighting. The machine may be set to run throughout all, or only
some, of the exams.

Trinity’s recordings of exams (film and audio) will not be released to candidates under any circumstances
after the exam.

Results, reports and certificates

Please note that Trinity’s central office will not give exam results over the telephone.

All candidates for practical exams receive a written report. Examiners issue reports only to the Trinity
representative, and are not allowed to give details of reports or results in any other way. In turn, Trinity
representatives will despatch those reports to the person who signed the application form.

Report forms for graded and certificate exams are normally issued within a week of completion of a
centre’s exam session, although in circumstances where a particularly large number of candidates
attended the same exam session, Trinity representatives may issue report forms on a fortnightly basis.

In the case of successful candidates, results are provisional until confirmed by the issue of a certificate.

Certificates show the date, centre, subject, and level achieved by a successful candidate, as well as the
name of their teacher and school (if requested). Each candidate performing in an ensemble will receive
a certificate showing their name and the name of the group. The personal details shown on certificates
will be taken from those recorded on the entry form.

Duplicate certificates and exam reports

Trinity cannot accept responsibility for the non-arrival of any exam report or certificate after it has
been posted. A duplicate of a certificate which has been destroyed or lost in the post can usually
be provided for exams passed within the previous 15 years.

For information about applying for a replacement certificate please go to trinitycollege.com/

replacement-certificates

Certificates of Special Merit

Candidates who have passed all the available grades in a particular subject available from the Trinity
exam suites (excluding Initial) can apply for a Certificate of Special Merit. Those who have achieved a
Distinction at every grade will have the words ‘with Distinction’ added to their Certificate of Special Merit.

To apply for a Certificate of Special Merit, please make a written request, including a copy of every
certificate or report form to Trinity’s central office.

12
 Information & Regulations from 2017

Prizes and Exhibition Awards

A number of prizes and Exhibition Awards are awarded each year for outstanding achievement in
exams. Information about these is available from Trinity representatives or via Trinity’s website.

Absence through illness and exceptional circumstances

If a candidate is ill and cannot take an exam as planned, the Trinity representative must be informed as
soon as possible. The person who signed the entry form may apply to the Trinity representative for a
re-entry permit by providing a medical certificate current for the date of the exam and the appointment
form originally issued to the candidate.

The re-entry application must be made no later than 30 days after the exam date. The Trinity
representative will forward the medical certificate and appointment form to Trinity, who will issue a
re-entry permit for an exam at the same level in the same subject.

A re-entry permit can be used for an exam within 12 months of the original exam date upon payment of
50% of the entry fee current at the new date of entering. If a permit is used towards entry for an exam
at a higher level, any difference in fee is also payable.

If a candidate wishes to postpone an exam, the original fee will not be refunded. There are special
arrangements in case of genuine compassionate circumstances. Trinity will not offer re-entry permits
for non-medical reasons, though sympathy will be shown to genuine cases in which appropriate
evidence is provided.

Referrals to Trinity over a candidate’s infringement of

exam regulations
All exams are assessed on the basis of the performance given on the day of the exam, without
regard to any external circumstances. If a candidate infringes exam regulations, eg by performing
an incorrect item, the performance will be heard without prejudice by the examiner in order not to
jeopardise the performance of other valid items.

The issue with the performance may be reported directly to Trinity’s central office by the examiner,
rather than on the candidate’s exam report form, so that Trinity may be able to exercise a certain
amount of discretion as to the validity of the assessment process. Trinity reserves the right to award
no marks for invalid items. The outcome of referred exams will be communicated to the Trinity
representative for disclosure to the candidate as soon as possible after the matter has been considered
by Trinity.

13
Information & Regulations from 2017

Results review and appeals procedure

Anyone who wishes to question the outcome of their exam result should refer to
trinitycollege.com/results-enquiry for full details of our results review and appeals process.

Malpractice
Trinity requires its Registered Exam Centres to report any suspected malpractice by candidates,
teachers or examiners. In situations where a centre is found to be inadequate or to be guilty of
malpractice, either in terms of provision of facilities or in administration, the exam centre may be
required to suspend all of its activities relating to Trinity exams until the cause of the problem is
identified and rectified, if appropriate. In extreme circumstances, the centre may no longer be permitted
to act as an exam centre registered with Trinity.

In the very rare cases or circumstances where a centre or individual may be suspected of malpractice,
Trinity will aim to minimise any inconvenience caused to any affected candidate, and would like to thank
candidates, teachers and centre staff for their kind co-operation in reporting any suspected incident of
cheating, thereby assisting Trinity in upholding the quality and integrity of its exam process.

14
 Information & Regulations from 2017

Official recognition of Trinity exams in England, Wales and

Northern Ireland
Trinity College London’s graded exams are regulated by Ofqual. They can be built into music education
programmes in the school curriculum, in the independent sector and in private tuition.

Regulated Qualifications Other equivalent

Trinity qualifications
Framework level qualifications
Masters degrees/
FTCL 7 postgraduate certificates
and diplomas
Honours degrees/
LTCL 6
graduate diplomas
Certificates of
ATCL 4
Higher Education

Grades 6–8 3 (Advanced) A/AS level

Grades 4–5 2 (Intermediate) GCSE Grade A*–C

Grades 1–3 1 (Foundation) GCSE Grade D–G

Certificate of Educational
Initial Entry
Achievement

The Initial exam for Trinity’s traditional grades is comparable to Entry Level. Note that Trinity’s graded
exams in Rock & Pop are also recognised by Ofqual.
Comparisons to other qualifications are made in terms of standards, not breadth of study. This is
because qualifications vary in terms of content, assessment methods, volume and purpose.
Trinity’s exams are also recognised within the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). Details of
this are available from Trinity’s central office.

Entry to UK higher education and UCAS points

Trinity graded music exams (including Rock & Pop exams) are eligible for United Kingdom Universities’ and
Colleges’ Admissions Service (UCAS) points within the UCAS tariff system, which is open to any student
applying for a course of study at a UK university or other higher education institution. These exams will
contribute towards a student’s ‘score’ of UCAS points when they apply for entry to higher education.
The UCAS points system assists admissions tutors to make broad comparisons across applicants to
higher education with different types and levels of qualifications. The way in which points are awarded
provides a level of confidence to university admissions staff for the use of the tariff within the higher
education sector. Therefore, recognition is attributed to qualifications offered by applicants which may
otherwise not be known by university staff, and is important in the context of increasing participation in
and widening access to higher education as a whole. Trinity College London diplomas are also awarded
credit by The Open University towards their degree programmes.

15